Ulster Rugby - Annual Report 2017-18

In the Gordon West Cup final the 2016 winners, Lurgan, regained the trophy with a 13-8 victory over Donaghadee to complete a league and cup double. On the same day two other finals were played at the Kingspan stadium. Dungannon Thirds won the Forster Cup with a nail-biting 18-17 victory over Ballyclare Fourths, while in the McCambley Cup last years’ winners, Ballymena Fourths, retained the trophy by beating Enniskillen Fourths, completing a league and cup double in the process. In the final of the Crawford Cup a Ballynahinch team was to retain the trophy following the victory of that Club’s Thirds in the 2017 final. This time however, it was Ballynahinch Fourths who claimed the Crawford Cup with a 24-20 victory over Grosvenor Seconds in what was an exciting and entertaining final In the plate competitions, the Crawford and Forster Shields, were won by Dromore Seconds and Cooke Seconds respectively. Ards Thirds overcame Banbridge Fifths in a hard fought 20-15 win to lift the Butler Shield and also complete a league and cup double. Clubs Committee Once again the Clubs Committee meetings were very well attended. There continued to be an influx of new members and, as part of the Committee’s review of effectiveness, a formal induction was provided for all members at the start of the season. Ulster Branch President Graffin Parke, despite a very busy schedule, chaired all but one of the meetings, while Ross Workman again prepared and circulated his very comprehensive minutes in quick time.

After Christmas, the top team in each of the four Regional League sections and the best loser from across all the sections were organised into a Regional Premier League section. Following a close battle at the top of this league, BSHFP Seconds pipped last years’ winners, Enniskillen Thirds, to win the title and the Ravenhill Cup. Strabane Seconds won Regional North, Rainey Thirds won nine of their ten fixtures to claim the Regional West title, while Ards Thirds were unbeaten in winning Regional North West. Banbridge Fifths, a new team entry for 2017/18, won Regional South East by twenty league points from their nearest rivals. While both Malone Fifths and Ballymena Fourths finished on the same number of points at the top of Regional North East, it was the latter who claimed the title because of the results between both teams. A complete listing of all league tables has been reproduced later in the report. Cup Competitions The City of Armagh Club was represented in both the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup and the First Trust Senior Cup finals in the week before Christmas. While their Firsts won the First Trust Senior Cup in a close encounter before an enthusiastic crowd, beating Ballymena 17-13, their Seconds came up short, losing by 23-3 to Ballynahinch Seconds in the Millar McCall, Wylie Junior Cup. The River Rock Towns Cup was won by Ballyclare who defeated Portadown 27-6 in the final on Easter Monday. Earlier on the same day, Malone Seconds met Cooke in the final of the McCrea Cup, a reprise of last year’s final, with Malone retaining the cup with a 21-10 victory.

21